Written Answers Wednesday 20 February 2008

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why the farm assurance membership schemes were dropped from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Richard Lochhead: A number of farm assurance membership schemes were dropped from the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) following concern from the European Commission that the standards of these schemes did not go "significantly beyond commercial commodity standards". Our intention is to seek to reintroduce schemes that are acceptable to the Commission through our first modification of the SRDP.

Agriculture

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why the farm visits programme was dropped from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-8795 on 01 February 2008. The farm and forest visits and talks measure was dropped from the programme because the Commission judged that it was outside the scope of Rural Development Regulation 1698/2005. This was mainly because the payments to be made through the measure were for operating costs which could not be supported through the regulation. We will continue to pursue this matter with the Commission to see if we can find a way to reinstate the measure in its existing or a modified form.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Agriculture

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what reasons were given by the European Commission for its decision not to approve the animal health and welfare scheme, the farm assurance membership schemes and the farm visits programme in the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answers to questions S3W-9192, S3W-9193 and S3W-9194 on 20 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Agriculture

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipates any future changes in the rate of voluntary modulation to help stimulate agri-environment schemes.

Richard Lochhead: One of my first decisions when I became Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment was to announce that the level of Voluntary Modulation for the new Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 would be 5% in 2007, 8% in 2008, 8.5% in 2009 and 9% in each year from 2010-12 inclusive. These are the Voluntary Modulation rates which I believe will deliver a full programme, balancing social, economic and environmental benefits.

  The relevant EC Regulations provide that once rates have been formally notified, they must be fixed for the full programming period and cannot be changed. It is, however, possible that these Regulations may change following the Health Check of the Common Agricultural Policy, in which case we may review the situation in the light of the then current circumstances.

Alcohol Misuse

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what legislation is being examined for change to prevent there being an excuse in law of being under the influence of alcohol

Kenny MacAskill: My officials are examining the current provisions on sentencing and aggravations and decisions will be made in due course.

Alcohol Misuse

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made on the Cabinet Secretary for Justice’s commitment to consider legislative change to prevent there being an excuse in law of being under the influence of alcohol.

Kenny MacAskill: We are considering how we may use a future Criminal Justice Bill to make a clear statement in law that being under the influence of alcohol during the commission of an offence will not be regarded as a mitigating factor.

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether mammals bred and reared in enclosures are considered to be farmed animals and are subject to the same legal protection in respect of their welfare as agricultural animals.

Richard Lochhead: Mammals bred and reared in enclosures would have the same protection as domestic animals under Part 2 of the Animal Heath and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006, if the enclosure was of a size that the animals could not be considered to be living in the wild. This act states that an animal is a "protected animal" if it is of a kind which is commonly domesticated in the British Isles, under the control of man, or not living in a wide state.

Animal Welfare

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why the animal health and welfare scheme was dropped from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Richard Lochhead: The Animal Health and Welfare measure was dropped from the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) following concern from the European Commission that it would not produce a significantly better outcome than that achieved through current statutory animal health and welfare requirements. We regret this. Our intention is to seek to reintroduce an Animal Health and Welfare measure that is acceptable to the Commission through our first modification of the SRDP.

Animal Welfare

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider an early ban on conventional battery farming ahead of the proposed EU ban in 2012.

Richard Lochhead: The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2002 banned the keeping of laying hens in conventional battery cages from 1 January 2003, but allowed egg producers using these systems at 31 December 2002 to continue until 1 January 2012.

  To bring forward the ban on conventional cages would "gold plate" the EU requirement and give egg producers using conventional cages insufficient time to change to enriched cages, barn or free range systems.

Animal Welfare

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the conditions in which broiler chickens are reared with a view to improving animal welfare standards.

Richard Lochhead: Broiler chicken production units are inspected by Scottish Executive staff and staff from the Animal Health Agency. Animal welfare and the conditions under which the chickens are raised are important aspects of these inspections.

  Council Directive 2007/43/EC sets down minimum welfare standards for the keeping of broiler chickens from 30 June 2010, including setting a maximum stocking density. This will be transposed into domestic legislation by secondary legislation. Most broiler chicken producers in Scotland already meet these new EU requirements.

Avian Influenza

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many proposed large-scale poultry developments that lie in the migratory path of birds known to carry the avian flu virus have been notified to Scottish ministers.

Richard Lochhead: Large-scale poultry developments are dealt with through the local authority planning consents process, and there are no additional requirements for these to be notified to Scottish ministers. All poultry keepers with 50 or more birds are legally required to supply their contact details to the Great Britain Poultry register. Keepers of less than 50 birds are encouraged to register on a voluntary basis. On 9 January 2008, the register held details of 2,231 Scottish premises. Bird migration takes place across very wide fronts, and it is appropriate to assume that the whole of Great Britain lies under migratory flyways.

Avian Influenza

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what preparations are being considered to deal with any major outbreak of avian flu originating from large-scale poultry developments.

Richard Lochhead: Preparations are already in place to deal with any outbreak of avian influenza. These preparations include on-going surveillance of wild birds and domestic poultry, a contingency plan to be activated in the event of an outbreak, and supporting infrastructure such as the animal health agency. Exercises are held regularly to test preparedness and communications between organisations.

Birds

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has in monitoring large-scale poultry developments and planning requests that lie in the path of migratory birds.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is fully responsible for animal health and welfare and planning policies in Scotland. Given that GB is a single epidemiological unit, the Scottish Government works in liaison with Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government to co-ordinate animal disease surveillance arrangements across Great Britain.

Common Agricultural Policy

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there will be any changes in available funding after the planned common agricultural policy "health check".

Richard Lochhead: The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) "health check" should not affect the overall funding allocated to CAP as this has been agreed as part of the EU Budget for 2007-13. It may, however, have implications for the distribution of funding. The Scottish Government will be seeking to achieve a good outcome for Scotland from the health check negotiations.

Debt

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it is giving to voluntary bodies helping people with personal debt problems.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government funds Citizens Advice Direct and part-funds National Debtline. These both provide telephone and email money advice services which cover more than one local authority area. We also support national infrastructure for money advice agencies. This includes training, second tier consultancy and the roll-out of the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers to cover welfare rights and money advice.

  We fund local authorities, through the local government settlement, to provide services in a way which reflects the needs of their area. That includes supporting voluntary bodies which provide advice and information to people with debt problems,

Elections

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8921 by Frank Mulholland QC on 7 February 2008, whether the protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Electoral Commission, specifically relates to the Scottish parliamentary and local government elections of May 2007.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-8921 by Mr Frank Mulholland QC on 7 February 2008, whether the protocol between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and the Electoral Commission relates specifically to the Scottish parliamentary and local government elections held in May 2007 and no other elections held in Scotland for any purpose.

Frank Mulholland QC: The Protocol between the Electoral Commission and the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland deals with offences created by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The protocol is not specific to the May 2007 elections.

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) UK-registered fishing vessels operating from Scottish ports, (b) UK-registered fishing vessels from outwith Scotland and (c) fishing vessels from other EU member states were detained by Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels in each of the last five years and what (i) range of and (ii) average financial penalties were imposed on the skippers of such vessels upon conviction in Scottish courts.

Richard Lochhead: The power to escort fishing vessels to port and detain them there pending further investigation or court proceedings, is exercised by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) in only a few of all cases referred by them to the Procurator Fiscal each year. The procedure is only invoked when investigations cannot be concluded at sea, or to secure evidence when foreign nationals are suspected of having committed offences. Use of the power to detain a vessel in port does not automatically result in a report being sent to the Procurator Fiscal for possible prosecution. Conversely, most reports to the Procurator Fiscal do not emanate from a detention situation.

  The number of vessels detained by the agency in each of the last five years broken down by Scottish, other UK, and other EU member states vessels is set out in table 1. The range of fines imposed, and the associated average in each year is also shown. Table 2 contains comparative figures based on all cases referred by the SFPA to the Procurator Fiscal in each of the last five years. The figures for 2007-08 were compiled as at 13 February 2008.

  Table 1

  

 Year
 Scottish
 Other UK
 Other EU
 Range of Fines
 Average Fine


 2007-08
 0
 1
 1
 -
 -


 2006-07
 0
 0
 8
£100 - £17,000
£17,000


 2005-06
 0
 1
 6
£600 - £17,500
£5,100


 2004-05
 0
 5
 5
£500 - £6,000
£3,944


 2003-04
 0
 0
 2
£20,000 – 25,000
£22,500



  Table 2

  

 Year
 Scottish
 Other UK
 Other EU
 Range of fines
 Average Fine


 2007-08
 29
 2
 0
£100 - £2,500
£1,079


 2006-07
 43
 6
 8
£100 - £17,000
£3,254


 2005-06
 51
 3
 8
£600 - £22,500
£4,400


 2004-05
 108
 6
 8
£100 - £20,000
£3,450


 2003-04
 85
 0
 2
£250 – £90,000
£4,905

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations or companies have responsibility for the recruitment, selection, training, employment and determination of terms and conditions of employment of the officers and crew-members of (a) Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels and (b) Scottish fisheries research vessels.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) is responsible for the recruitment, selection, training, employment and the determination of terms and conditions of employment of the officers and crew-members on the vessels operated by the SFPA.

  In respect of Fisheries Research Service vessels, Marr Vessel Management Ltd (vessel management contractors) is currently responsible for the employment, recruitment, selection, training and determination of the conditions of employment of the marine officers and crew members.

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether European Union citizens from outwith the United Kingdom have to undergo an English language test before being employed on Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels and Scottish fisheries research vessels and whether there are health and safety regulations which require a basic grasp of English.

Richard Lochhead: There are numerous regulations that relate to the use of the English language on British vessels, and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) complies with these regulations. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency Code of Safe Working Practice for Seamen (amended 2007) also stresses the importance of commonality of language in training or instruction.

  All permanent staff serving on SFPA vessels are interviewed prior to appointment and the interview process ascertains that candidates have the requisite communication skills. In addition, the command language onboard SFPA vessels is English and it is a requirement of the SFPA Safety Management System for Commanding Officers to ensure that any seafarers joining their vessels have sufficient oral and written skills in that language to carry out their duties.

  For personnel employed on the research vessels owned by the Fisheries Research Services, all potential officers and crew are interviewed by Marr Vessel Management Ltd (the vessel management contractors) during the recruitment process to check that they have an appropriate working level of English and this is an essential requirement for selection.

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive where Scottish Fisheries Protection vessels undergo their annual surveys; how long such surveys last, and where any resultant repairs are carried out.

Richard Lochhead: Annual surveys for Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency vessels are harmonised with the time of their annual three-week refits which include a dry docking. These are carried out in ship repair yards with suitable facilities which are identified after an open tendering procurement process.

Fisheries

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who was consulted on the recent Net Limitation Order introduced under the River Border Esk Fisheries Byelaw and when the consultation took place.

Richard Lochhead: The recent Net Limitation Order does not form part of the River Esk (Border) Byelaws, which were made under Article 4(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 (Border Rivers) Order 1999. The Net Limitation Order applies only to fisheries in England and was made under the provisions of section 26 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. This Order was made by the Environment Agency, who undertook the consultation required under their statutory obligations. The Environment Agency can provide details of the consultation undertaken prior to the Order being made.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the Bramley model to be an accurate account of housing need.

Stewart Maxwell: Professor Glen Bramley’s Local Housing Need and Affordability model for Scotland was commissioned by the previous administration. The most recent update of the model was published in November 2006 and offered assessments of housing need and affordability at local authority and housing market area levels based on data from 2005, with forward projections to 2021. In many cases, Bramley’s estimates differ from the housing needs assessments undertaken for individual local authorities. This is due to the fact that local authority housing needs assessments vary in terms of coverage, time series and methodology. While it is not possible to model affordable housing need with complete precision, the Bramley model has produced a consistent set of estimates as the basis for national policy making.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to update the Bramley model to estimate affordable housing need.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has no immediate plans to update Bramley’s model of affordable housing need. We have recently commissioned a Scottish model of housing supply and affordability which will allow us to strengthen our future forecasts. This new model will allow scenario analysis at the national and sub-Scotland level of the relationship between house building and affordability. This will not replace the Bramley model, but act as another tool to aid policy-making.

Housing

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received for private landlord registration in each year of the 2004 spending review.

Stewart Maxwell: The breakdown of grant funding for landlord registration for each year of the 2004 spending review is shown in the following table.

  

Local Authority
Grant Distribution
2005-06 (£)
Grant Distribution
2006-07 (£)
Grant Distribution
2007-08 (£)


Aberdeen City Council
68,585
108,365
108,365


Aberdeenshire Council
50,540
79,853
79,853


Angus Council
33,896
53,556
53,556


Argyll and Bute Council
35,701
56,407
56,407


City of Edinburgh Council
182,337
288,093
288,093


Clackmannanshire Council
12,516
19,775
19,775


Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
12,646
19,980
19,980


Dumfries and Galloway Council
51,825
81,884
81,884


Dundee City Council
56,576
89,390
89,390


East Ayrshire Council
18,954
29,948
29,948


East Dunbartonshire Council
13,773
21,762
21,762


East Lothian Council
21,463
33,912
33,912


East Renfrewshire Council
13,097
20,693
20,693


Falkirk Council
19,283
30,466
30,466


Fife Council
63,493
100,319
100,319


Glasgow City Council
149,911
236,859
236,859


Highland Council
60,424
95,470
95,470


Inverclyde Council
19,782
31,255
31,255


Midlothian Council
16,808
26,557
26,557


Moray Council
34,006
53,729
53,729


North Ayrshire Council
23,965
37,864
37,864


North Lanarkshire Council
26,624
42,065
42,065


Orkney Islands Council
12,536
19,807
19,807


Perth and Kinross Council
51,032
80,631
80,631


Renfrewshire Council
29,221
46,169
46,169


Scottish Borders Council
41,360
65,349
65,349


Shetland Islands Council
11,791
18,630
18,630


South Ayrshire Council
25,551
40,370
40,370


South Lanarkshire Council
31,326
49,496
49,496


Stirling Council
25,393
40,121
40,121


West Dunbartonshire Council
13,842
21,870
21,870


West Lothian Council
21,743
34,354
34,354


Total
1,250,000
1,975,000
1,975,000

Legal Aid

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many solicitors’ practices undertook legal aid work for which they received fee payments, excluding VAT, from the Scottish Legal Aid Board in 2005-06 for (a) criminal and (b) civil legal aid of (i) less than £25,000, (ii) from £25,000 to £49,999, (iii) from £50,00 to £74,999, (iv) from £75,000 to £100,000 and (v) more than £100,000, broken down by parliamentary region or postcode area.

Kenny MacAskill: The following tables give details of the fees paid to solicitors’ firms between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006 for criminal and civil legal aid. All fee payments are excluding VAT and include solicitor and solicitor-advocate fees paid to the firm.

  Royal Mail postal areas have been used to illustrate regionality of earnings and an explanation of the codes is given as follows. For firms with multiple branches, the main branch of the firm handling payments has been used although such firms will in reality generate their fees across their branch network which may span more than one postal area. It is not possible to apportion fees amongst specific branches in a multi-branch firm.

  Table 1: Numbers of Solicitors’ Firms Paid Civil Legal Aid Fees Between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006, by Postcode Area and Level of Fees

  

 Postal Area
 Less than £25,000
£25,000 to £50,000
£50,000 to £75,000
£75,000 to £100,000
 Over £100,000
 Grand Total


 AB
 48
 7
 3
 2
 3
 63


 DD
 23
 7
 3
 1
 9
 43


 DG
 18
 5
 2
 0
 1
 26


 EH
 76
 12
 6
 4
 16
 114


 FK
 19
 8
 5
 3
 2
 37


 G
 159
 48
 17
 8
 22
 254


 HS
 3
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3


 IV
 28
 5
 2
 1
 1
 37


 KA
 31
 10
 9
 2
 4
 56


 KW
 10
 0
 0
 0
 0
 10


 KY
 27
 9
 6
 6
 1
 49


 ML
 38
 13
 6
 1
 5
 63


 PA
 35
 14
 2
 2
 4
 57


 PH
 11
 6
 2
 1
 1
 21


 TD
 7
 3
 0
 1
 0
 11


 ZE
 3
 0
 0
 0
 0
 3


 Grand Total
 536
 147
 63
 32
 69
 847



  Notes:

  1.1 A number of firms, especially in the Edinburgh area, act as agents at the Court of Session for other firms based around the country. These Edinburgh agents’ fees are paid as outlays in the nominated solicitors’ accounts. Their fees are not included in the table.

  1.2 Civil fees include fees paid for civil legal advice and assistance work and civil legal aid work.

  Table 2: Numbers of Solicitors’ Firms Paid Criminal Legal Aid Fees Between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006, by Postcode Area and Level of Fees

  

 Postal Area
 Less than £25,000
£25,000 to £50,000
£50,000 to £75,000
£75,000 to £100,000
 Over £100,000
 Grand Total


 AB
 29
 2
 2
 5
 12
 50


 DD
 14
 1
 3
 2
 15
 35


 DG
 15
 3
 1
 1
 5
 25


 EH
 30
 6
 4
 5
 26
 71


 FK
 20
 4
 1
 1
 9
 35


 G
 92
 21
 16
 13
 77
 219


 HS
 2
 0
 1
 0
 0
 3


 IV
 18
 3
 3
 0
 9
 33


 KA
 19
 8
 3
 3
 14
 47


 KW
 5
 0
 0
 0
 0
 5


 KY
 20
 6
 9
 2
 6
 43


 ML
 27
 9
 4
 1
 22
 63


 PA
 16
 9
 7
 1
 10
 43


 PH
 7
 2
 1
 2
 4
 16


 TD
 7
 2
 1
 0
 1
 11


 ZE
 1
 0
 1
 0
 0
 2


 Grand Total
 322
 76
 57
 36
 210
 701



  Notes:

  2.1 Criminal payments include payments for Contempt of Court, Duty and Appeals work.

  2.2 Criminal fees include fees paid for criminal legal advice and assistance work and for children’s legal advice and assistance work. Historically, children’s and criminal advice and assistance were included on the same accounting code. They have now been separated and from 2007-08 onwards payments for these two activities are being distinguished separately.

  The postal areas referred to in tables 1 and 2 are as follows:

  

 Postal Area
 Postal Towns


 AB
 Aberdeen, Aberlour, Aboyne, Alford, Ballater, Ballindalloch, Banchory, Banff, Buckie, Ellon, Fraserburgh, Huntly, Insch, Inverurie, Keith, Laurencekirk, Macduff, Milltimber, Peterculter, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Strathdon, Turriff, Westhill



 DD
 Arbroath, Brechin, Carnoustie, Dundee, Forfar, Kirriemuir, Montrose, Newport-On-Tay, Tayport



 DG
 Annan, Canonbie, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, Dumfries, Gretna, Kirkcudbright, Langholm, Lockerbie, Moffat, Newton Stewart, Sanquhar, Stranraer, Thornhill



 EH
 Balerno, Bathgate, Bo’ness, Bonnyrigg, Broxburn, Currie, Dalkeith, Dunbar, East Linton, Edinburgh, Gorebridge, Gullane, Haddington, Heriot, Humbie, Innerleithen, Juniper Green, Kirkliston, Kirknewton, Lasswade, Linlithgow, Livingston, Loanhead, Longniddry, Musselburgh, Newbridge, North Berwick, Pathhead, Peebles, Penicuik, Prestonpans, Rosewell, Roslin, South Queensferry, Tranent, Walkerburn, West Calder, West Linton



 FK
 Alloa, Alva, Bonnybridge, Callander, Clackmannan, Crianlarich, Denny, Dollar, Doune, Dunblane, Falkirk, Grangemouth, Killin, Larbert, Lochearnhead, Menstrie, Stirling, Tillicoultry



 G
 Alexandria, Arrochar, Clydebank, Dumbarton, Glasgow, Helensburgh



 HS
 Castlebay, Harris, Isle Of Benbecula, Isle Of Lewis, Isle Of Scalpay, Leverburgh, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy, Stornoway



 IV
 Achnasheen, Alness, Ardgay, Avoch, Beauly, Cromarty, Dingwall, Dornoch, Elgin, Fochabers, Forres, Fortrose, Gairloch, Garve, Invergordon, Inverness, Isle Of Skye, Kyle, Lairg, Lossiemouth, Muir Of Ord, Munlochy, Nairn, Plockton, Portree, Rogart, Strathcarron, Strathpeffer, Strome Ferry, Tain, Ullapool



 KA
 Ardrossan, Ayr, Beith, Brodick, Cumnock, Dalry, Darvel, Galston, Girvan, Irvine, Kilbirnie, Kilmarnock, Kilwinning, Largs, Mauchline, Maybole, Millport, Newmilns, Prestwick, Saltcoats, Stevenston, Troon, West Kilbride



 KW
 Berriedale, Brora, Dunbeath, Forsinard, Golspie, Halkirk, Helmsdale, Kinbrace, Kirkwall, Latheron, Lybster, Orkney, Stromness, Thurso, Wick



 KY
 Anstruther, Burntisland, Cowdenbeath, Cupar, Dunfermline, Glenrothes, Inverkeithing, Kelty, Kinross, Kirkcaldy, Leven, Lochgelly, St Andrews



 ML
 Airdrie, Bellshill, Biggar, Carluke, Coatbridge, Hamilton, Lanark, Larkhall, Motherwell, Shotts, Strathaven, Wishaw



 PA
 Appin, Ballygrant, Bishopton, Bowmore, Bridge Of Orchy, Bridge Of Weir, Bridgend, Bruichladdich, Cairndow, Campbeltown, Colintraive, Craighouse, Dalmally, Dunoon, Erskine, Gourock, Greenock, Inveraray, Isle Of Coll, Isle Of Colonsay, Isle Of Gigha, Isle Of Iona, Isle Of Mull, Johnstone, Kilmacolm, Lochgilphead, Lochwinnoch, Oban, Paisley, Port Askaig, Port Charlotte, Port Ellen, Port Glasgow, Portnahaven, Renfrew, Rothesay, Scarinish, Skelmorlie, Tarbert, Taynuilt, Tighnabruaich, Wemyss Bay



 PH
 Aberfeldy, Acharacle, Arisaig, Auchterarder, Aviemore, Ballachulish, Blairgowrie, Boat Of Garten, Carrbridge, Corrour, Crieff, Dalwhinnie, Dunkeld, Fort Augustus, Fort William, Glenfinnan, Grantown-On-Spey, Invergarry, Isle Of Canna, Isle Of Eigg, Isle Of Rum, Kingussie, Kinlochleven, Lochailort, Mallaig, Nethy Bridge, Newtonmore, Perth, Pitlochry, Roy Bridge, Spean Bridge



 TD
 Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Cockburnspath, Coldstream, Cornhill-On-Tweed, Duns, Earlston, Eyemouth, Galashiels, Gordon, Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, Lauder, Melrose, Mindrum, Newcastleton, Selkirk



 ZE
 Lerwick, Shetland

Maritime Issues

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on proposals for ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth.

Richard Lochhead: On February 1 Forth Ports plc announced it would not be proceeding with its proposals for ship to ship oil transfers in the Forth of Forth.

  Forth Ports news release can be found at:

  http://www.forthports.co.uk/ports/uploads/press/PressRelease-ShiptoShipTransfers-1Feb08.pdf.

  The Scottish Government news release can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/02/01095507.

Maritime Issues

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met representatives of Forth Ports plc.

Richard Lochhead: Officials of the Scottish Government last met representatives of Forth Ports on 30 January.

Meat Industry

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed in the poultry industry, broken down by local authority area.

Richard Lochhead: Information on the total number of people employed throughout all parts of the poultry industry is not available in the Scottish Government.

  Information is available from the June Agricultural Census on the number of people working on specialist poultry holdings1. The following table shows the number of people working full-time and part-time on 1 June 2007 by local authority area, and includes occupiers, spouses, family members, employees as well as casual and seasonal workers.

  

 Local Authority
 Holdings
 Workers


 Aberdeen City
 *
 *


 Aberdeenshire
 231
 254


 Angus
 28
 49


 Argyll and Bute
 64
 76


 Clackmannanshire
 9
 30


 Dumfries and Galloway
 129
 212


 Dundee City
 0
 0


 East Ayrshire
 29
 48


 East Dunbartonshire
 7
 17


 East Lothian
 14
 50


 East Renfrewshire
 *
 *


 Edinburgh (City of)
 *
 *


 Eilean Siar
 73
 52


 Falkirk
 18
 33


 Fife
 69
 228


 Glasgow City
 0
 0


 Highland
 227
 194


 Inverclyde
 *
 *


 Midlothian
 8
 23


 Moray
 40
 48


 North Ayrshire
 27
 43


 North Lanarkshire
 12
 15


 Orkney Islands
 60
 43


 Perth and Kinross
 71
 148


 Renfrewshire
 *
 *


 Scottish Borders
 79
 317


 Shetland Islands
 23
 23


 South Ayrshire
 28
 29


 South Lanarkshire
 44
 46


 Stirling
 34
 45


 West Dunbartonshire
 9
 12


 West Lothian
 27
 59


 Scotland
 1,374
 2,124



  Source: June 2007 Agricultural Census.

  Notes:

  * - Indicates cell suppressed to prevent disclosure of information about individual holdings.

  1. A specialist poultry holding is classified as one where poultry accounts for more than two-thirds of that holding’s economic activities. Consequently, there will be some workers involved in poultry production on other holdings which are not included in these results. Data from the June Agricultural Census show that 89% of poultry in Scotland on 1 June 2007 were kept on specialist poultry holdings.

  People working on more than one holding are only recorded once, which explains why for some local authorities the number of holdings is greater than the number of workers.

Ministerial Cars

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cars are in the fleet of cars owned by it for use by Scottish ministers and others and which makes and models they are.

John Swinney: The Government Car Service (GCS) supports ministers and some senior officials in their official duties across Scotland. The number of cars in GCS’ fleet and the makes and models are shown in the following table:

  

 Number of Cars
 Make and Model
 Engine


 9
 Volvo S80 - saloon
 Dual Fuel (Petrol/LPG)


 11
 Volvo S80 - saloon
 Diesel


 1
 Peugeot 407 - estate
 Diesel


 1
 Lexus GS 450h SE - saloon
 Hybrid (Petrol/Electric)


 1
 Toyota Prius - saloon
 Hybrid (Petrol/Electric)


 2
 Honda Civic IMA – saloon
 Hybrid (Petrol/Electric)


 Total 25

People with Disabilities

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to improve the level and quality of information available for young physically disabled adults on the support services available to them.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government provides core funding under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to Update, a charitable organisation which aims to improve the quality of life of disabled people by enabling information providers to offer accurate, relevant and accessible disability related information. The government also funds the Scottish Accessible Information Forum (SAIF) to produce standards for information and advice services for disabled people. The SAIF recently published a practical guide for disabled people on the standards of services that should be provided by information, advice or service providers. The booklet is available at: www.saifscotland.org.uk .

Planning

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the proximity principle will be a material issue for determining planning applications for new waste facilities.

Richard Lochhead: Although priority must initially be given to the development plan in determining a planning application, other relevant issues may also be considered depending on the facts and circumstances of each case. The proximity principle may therefore be a material consideration in determining planning applications for new waste facilities.

Police

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all existing protocols between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and the Crown Office which determine and set out when police investigations should be undertaken.

Frank Mulholland QC: The current formal protocols between ACPOS and the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) which determine and set out when police investigations should be undertaken are as follows:

  Joint Protocol between ACPOS and COPFS on Domestic Abuse.

  Work Related Deaths - A Protocol for Liaison among COPFS, ACPOS, the Health and Safety Executive and British Transport Police.

  These protocols deal with specific types of investigation.

Police

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was received in public funds by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland in each year since 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: Information on Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) accounts is held by the Association. The Scottish Government has contributed to the costs of the association’s secretariat. Details of the amounts involved are as follows:

  Scottish Government Funding to ACPOS, 1998-99 to 2007-08

  

 Year
Amount (£000)


 1998-99
 152


 1999-2000
 146


 2000-01
 142


 2001-02
 145


 2002-03
 185


 2003-04
 155


 2004-05
 267


 2005-06
 231


 2006-07
 224


 2007-08
 314

Police

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to ensure public accountability of professional associations, such as the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS), which are wholly or partially funded from the public purse.

Kenny MacAskill: Any organisation in receipt of Scottish Government funding will be subject to conditions of grant attached to that funding.

  A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between ACPOS and the Scottish Government agreed in October 2007 setting out the provisions governing the payment of grant-in-aid to ACPOS is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44794).

  On 1 April 2007, ACPOS became an incorporated company limited by guarantee. This means that it has responsibilities under the Companies Acts 1985 and 1989 to register its memorandum and articles and to produce annual accounts.

Police

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many official protocols have been agreed between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland and government agencies and departments responsible for administering justice in Scotland in each year since 1999 and what the protocols are.

Frank Mulholland QC: Eleven formal protocols have been agreed between the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Services (COPFS). These protocols are:

  ACPOS/COPFS Protocol on Disclosure of Evidential Material in Criminal Prosecutions, February 2007;

  COPFS/ACPOS/Scottish Executive/Scottish Prison Service/Scottish Court Service (SCS)/District Courts Association Protocol on the Prioritisation of Warrants in the Scottish Criminal Justice System, April 2007;

  Work Related Death Protocol – COPFS/ACPOS/Health and Safety Executive/British Transport Police, January 2006;

  COPFS and ACPOS Protocol in relation to Search Warrants, December 2005;

  COPFS National Forensic Science Protocol, February 2004;

  ACPOS and COPFS Joint Protocol on Police Reports, 2004;

  COPFS and Police Protocol for witness citation targets, May 2004;

  Joint Protocol between ACPOS and COPFS on Domestic Abuse, November 2004;

  COPFS and ACPOS Family Liaison Protocol April 2003;

  Protocol between COPFS/SCS/ACPOS for Instruction of interpreters for criminal court diets, February 2002, and

  ACPOS/Crown Office Major Intelligence led Crime Investigations protocol, November 2001.

Police

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officers were in post on 3 May 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: Figures on police strength are collected on a whole-time equivalent basis for the Quarterly Strength Return. This is updated on a quarterly basis to reflect returns for 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December. Copies are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. numbers 40257 (for 2006-07) and 43307 (for 2007-08)).

Police

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given to the use of tasers by police officers.

Kenny MacAskill: In Scotland tasers are only issued to authorised police firearms officers and the circumstances and extent to which tasers are deployed are an operational matter for chief constables.

Prison Service

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is per night of holding a prisoner in prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The average cost of a prisoner place per night is £111, based on the most recent estimate of the average cost of a prisoner place in the SPS Annual Report and Accounts for 2006-07, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43128), or via the Scottish Prison Service website http://www.sps.gov.uk/.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were assaulted in Scottish prisons while (a) on remand and (b) serving their sentence in each year since 1999, broken down by gender and category of assault.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table illustrates the total number of assaults broken down by establishment and gender. Reliable data is not available prior to 2001, neither is it possible to distinguish between remand and convicted.

  

 Establishment
 Prisoner Gender
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 Grand Total


 Aberdeen
 F
 1
 4
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 6


 
 M
 19
 30
 21
 12
 30
 32
 20
 2
 166


 Barlinnie
 M
 55
 77
 47
 34
 51
 62
 60
 8
 394


 Castle Huntly
 M
 1
 
 
 
 
 3
 
 
 4


 Cornton Vale
 F
 11
 8
 8
 7
 31
 22
 32
 1
 120


 Dumfries
 M
 6
 10
 17
 8
 17
 18
 29
 
 105


 Edinburgh
 M
 32
 41
 51
 51
 52
 80
 66
 7
 380


 Glenochil Prison
 M
 14
 8
 13
 15
 15
 15
 20
 5
 105


 Glenochil YOI
 M
 3
 9
 2
 
 
 
 
 
 14


 Greenock
 F
 
 1
 3
 6
 1
 
 
 
 11


 
 M
 8
 10
 10
 30
 21
 25
 22
 3
 129


 Inverness
 M
 
 
 
 2
 12
 13
 17
 
 44


 Kilmarnock
 M
 18
 31
 16
 21
 41
 38
 49
 11
 225


 Low Moss
 M
 4
 19
 9
 14
 19
 16
 6
 
 87


 Noranside
 M
 
 1
 
 1
 2
 
 
 
 4


 Open Estate
 M
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 1


 Perth
 M
 10
 33
 53
 92
 59
 37
 59
 8
 351


 Peterhead
 M
 8
 4
 3
 2
 4
 8
 10
 
 39


 Polmont
 M
 24
 51
 95
 151
 151
 145
 141
 10
 768


 Shotts
 M
 6
 10
 13
 10
 15
 14
 11
 1
 80


 Grand Total
 
 220
 347
 361
 456
 522
 528
 543
 56
 3,033

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners were held in segregated protective custody whilst serving sentences in Scottish prisons in each year since 1999.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS does not have a category of prisoners who are held in segregated protective custody. The following table displays the number of prisoners who have been held on protection conditions within SPS establishments.

  

 Incident Establishment Name
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 Grand Total


 Aberdeen
 
 1
 
 
 2
 2
 
 5


 Barlinnie
 
 
 1
 2
 1
 
 
 4


 Cornton Vale
 1
 
 
 
 1
 
 2
 4


 Edinburgh
 1
 2
 
 1
 1
 1
 
 6


 Glenochil Prison
 1
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 2


 Kilmarnock
 
 1
 
 
 
 1
 
 2


 Low Moss
 1
 1
 2
 1
 
 2
 1
 8


 Perth
 1
 1
 
 
 4
 1
 2
 9


 Peterhead
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 1


 Polmont
 
 5
 2
 2
 
 1
 1
 11


 Shotts
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 
 1


 Grand Total
 5
 12
 5
 7
 9
 9
 6
 53

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many attempted prisoner escapes have been identified and prevented by prison authorities in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table illustrates the number of instances of attempted escape. Reliable data is not available prior to 2001.

  

 Incident Establishment Name
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 Grand Total


 Aberdeen
 
 1
 
 
 2
 2
 
 5


 Barlinnie
 
 
 1
 2
 1
 
 
 4


 Cornton Vale
 1
 
 
 
 1
 
 2
 4


 Edinburgh
 1
 2
 
 1
 1
 1
 
 6


 Glenochil Prison
 1
 
 
 1
 
 
 
 2


 Kilmarnock
 
 1
 
 
 
 1
 
 2


 Low Moss
 1
 1
 2
 1
 
 2
 1
 8


 Perth
 1
 1
 
 
 4
 1
 2
 9


 Peterhead
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 
 1


 Polmont
 
 5
 2
 2
 
 1
 1
 11


 Shotts
 
 1
 
 
 
 
 
 1


 Grand Total
 5
 12
 5
 7
 9
 9
 6
 53

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many weapons have been recovered from (a) prisoner accommodation and (b) prisoners following searches by prison authorities in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table displays the total number of weapons recovered in each SPS establishment. Reliable data is not available prior to 2001. Records do not distinguish between finds in accommodation and on persons.

  

 Establishment
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008


 Aberdeen
 
 
 2
 2
 10
 7
 5
 2


 Barlinnie
 
 12
 13
 11
 31
 60
 64
 5


 Castle Huntly
 1
 
 1
 
 1
 2
 
 


 Cornton Vale
 
 
 
 7
 16
 10
 13
 


 Dumfries
 
 
 
 1
 13
 1
 16
 4


 Edinburgh
 46
 111
 61
 46
 31
 48
 76
 4


 Glenochil
 1
 32
 34
 20
 16
 25
 30
 1


 Greenock
 
 6
 6
 14
 9
 31
 21
 3


 Inverness
 8
 4
 2
 3
 4
 7
 1
 


 Kilmarnock
 
 36
 85
 31
 30
 53
 66
 5


 Low Moss
 1
 16
 7
 8
 15
 16
 1
 


 Noranside
 
 
 
 
 
 2
 
 


 Open Estate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4
 


 Peterhead
 
 
 
 
 
 2
 
 


 Polmont
 
 4
 118
 125
 133
 104
 82
 1


 Perth
 
 
 3
 23
 61
 46
 80
 4


 Shotts
 32
 31
 30
 34
 48
 34
 18
 7


 Grand Total
 89
 252
 362
 325
 418
 448
 477
 36

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many weapons that individuals have attempted to smuggle into prison have been recovered by prison authorities for each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The SPS does not record where weapons are specifically recovered from visitors. Any such recovery is included in the overall weapon find count.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-9094 on 20 February 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents there have been involving the recovery of illegal drugs by prison officers carrying out searches of prisoner accommodation and prisoners in each year since 1999, broken down by category of drug recovered and prison.

Kenny MacAskill: Incident Establishment Name
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 Grand Total


 Aberdeen
 13
 68
 52
 35
 41
 20
 29
 4
 262


 Barlinnie
 128
 146
 168
 200
 265
 307
 378
 40
 1,632


 Castle Huntly
 2
 5
 13
 17
 37
 79
 19
 
 172


 Cornton Vale
 46
 79
 52
 58
 94
 83
 106
 4
 522


 Dumfries
 5
 12
 31
 23
 20
 22
 33
 2
 148


 Edinburgh
 112
 231
 309
 231
 265
 219
 215
 38
 1,620


 Glenochil Prison
 79
 93
 69
 98
 116
 114
 137
 15
 721


 Glenochil YOI
 13
 21
 4
 
 
 
 
 
 38


 Greenock
 27
 51
 50
 85
 71
 80
 64
 8
 436


 Inverness
 1
 1
 
 
 1
 18
 12
 1
 34


 Kilmarnock
 79
 86
 123
 171
 236
 333
 226
 30
 1,284


 Low Moss
 80
 71
 66
 89
 102
 68
 25
 
 501


 Noranside
 2
 2
 4
 24
 23
 22
 5
 
 82


 Open Estate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 48
 8
 56


 Perth
 44
 94
 103
 182
 202
 163
 130
 14
 932


 Peterhead
 4
 2
 2
 3
 1
 9
 5
 
 26


 Polmont
 32
 71
 53
 163
 157
 102
 99
 20
 697


 Shotts
 68
 29
 47
 65
 154
 135
 90
 15
 603


 Grand Total
 735
 1,062
 1,146
 1,444
 1,785
 1,774
 1,621
 199
 9,766

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents there have been of illegal drugs recovered by prison authorities from individuals who have attempted to smuggle drugs into prison in each year since 1999, broken down by category of drug and prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table illustrates the number incidents where drugs have been recovered from visitors attending Scottish Prisons. Reliable data is not available prior to 2001 and category of drug is not recorded.

  

 Incident Establishment Name
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 Grand Total


 Aberdeen
 
 
 
 3
 6
 32
 24
 4
 69


 Barlinnie
 
 
 2
 25
 58
 39
 21
 4
 149


 Cornton Vale
 
 1
 1
 2
 3
 6
 5
 
 18


 Dumfries
 
 
 
 2
 1
 2
 1
 
 6


 Edinburgh
 4
 1
 2
 13
 17
 14
 14
 1
 66


 Glenochil Prison
 4
 11
 7
 3
 2
 4
 9
 1
 41


 Glenochil YOI
 
 2
 2
 
 
 
 
 
 4


 Greenock
 1
 1
 
 7
 14
 3
 14
 1
 41


 Inverness
 1
 
 
 
 
 1
 1
 
 3


 Kilmarnock
 
 
 10
 21
 32
 28
 19
 1
 111


 Low Moss
 3
 
 1
 7
 6
 
 1
 
 18


 Perth
 5
 4
 7
 25
 29
 29
 18
 1
 118


 Peterhead
 
 
 
 
 
 3
 1
 
 4


 Polmont
 
 
 
 10
 14
 15
 22
 2
 63


 Shotts
 2
 2
 7
 9
 14
 18
 9
 2
 63


 Grand Total
 20
 22
 39
 127
 196
 194
 159
 17
 774

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offenders released on licence have been recalled to prison to serve the remainder of their sentence in each year since 1999, broken down by prison.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table illustrates those offenders who have been recalled having been released on licence.

  

 Establishment
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006
 2007
 2008
 Grand Total


 Aberdeen
 16
 22
 16
 21
 20
 22
 16
 23
 19
 2
 177


 Barlinnie
 156
 133
 132
 163
 147
 117
 137
 156
 137
 24
 1,302


 Castle Huntly
 2
 4
 4
 12
 9
 5
 1
 1
 
 
 38


 Cornton Vale
 14
 15
 17
 9
 5
 10
 7
 15
 18
 1
 111


 Dumfries
 7
 7
 10
 13
 13
 7
 8
 16
 9
 3
 93


 Edinburgh
 48
 41
 55
 85
 85
 70
 93
 115
 133
 12
 737


 Glenochil
 26
 21
 23
 31
 39
 50
 50
 82
 85
 7
 414


 Glenochil YOI
 4
 2
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6


 Greenock
 28
 27
 34
 34
 11
 26
 24
 22
 28
 5
 239


 Inverness
 7
 4
 6
 8
 7
 10
 9
 7
 9
 0
 67


 Kilmarnock
 70
 61
 82
 81
 40
 30
 46
 64
 57
 5
 536


 Low Moss
 30
 17
 21
 11
 12
 11
 14
 9
 2
 
 127


 Noranside
 
 1
 
 4
 5
 4
 1
 
 
 
 15


 Open Estate
 3
 7
 3
 8
 20
 12
 16
 17
 8
 0
 94


 Perth
 40
 26
 44
 31
 45
 43
 30
 59
 78
 11
 407


 Peterhead
 6
 2
 4
 5
 7
 10
 16
 19
 17
 1
 87


 Polmont
 6
 3
 5
 2
 3
 10
 10
 23
 38
 6
 106


 Shotts
 27
 14
 21
 24
 22
 21
 41
 31
 34
 0
 235


 Grand Total
 490
 407
 477
 542
 490
 458
 519
 659
 672
 77
 4,791

Procurement

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan, as referred to in paragraph 7.25 of Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration: Achieving a Low Carbon Future: A Strategy for Scotland - draft for consultation, March 2007 .

John Swinney: The proposed content of the Scottish Sustainable Procurement Action Plan is with the cross-sectoral Public Procurement Policy Forum for comments. Their views are being considered at present.

Roads

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications would be if £10 million per annum was cut from the Routine and Winter Maintenance level 3 budget line for the next three years.

Stewart Stevenson: A funding cut of £10 million per annum will not be sustainable. It will reduce the level of funding below that required for contractually committed sums, winter maintenance, defects and hazards. The Scottish ministers would not meet their minimum Duty of Care Commitments to keep the trunk road network in a safe condition for road users.

  A funding cut of £10 million per annum would significantly affect the commercial viability of the operating companies and the insurance indemnity that they provide and would lead to significant job losses in the Scottish road maintenance industry.

Single Outcome Agreements

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, when it expects to agree the single outcome agreements with local authorities and when such agreements will be published.

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, under the terms of its concordat with COSLA, when it expects to agree a single outcome agreement with Fife Council and when the agreement will be published.

John Swinney: We are working to prepare single outcome agreements by 1 April 2008 and expect to have them in place with all councils by early summer 2008. We expect them to be made publicly available shortly thereafter.

Social Work

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority received to provide social work training in each year of the 2004 spending review.

Adam Ingram: The allocation of £5.5 million specific grant funding for social work training to local authorities in each year of the 2004 spending review was:

  

 
£000


 Aberdeen City
 225


 Aberdeenshire
 168


 Angus
 116


 Argyll and Bute
 116


 Clackmannanshire
 61


 Dumfries and Galloway
 116


 Dundee City
 168


 East Ayrshire
 116


 East Dunbartonshire
 61


 East Lothian
 116


 East Renfrewshire
 61


 Edinburgh, City of
 500


 Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
 61


 Falkirk
 168


 Fife
 332


 Glasgow City
 940


 Highland
 225


 Inverclyde
 116


 Midlothian
 61


 Moray
 61


 North Ayrshire
 168


 North Lanarkshire
 332


 Orkney
 61


 Perth and Kinross
 116


 Renfrewshire
 168


 Scottish Borders
 116


 Shetland
 61


 South Ayrshire
 116


 South Lanarkshire
 281


 Stirling
 61


 West Dunbartonshire
 116


 West Lothian
 116

UK Counter-Terrorism Bill

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it has given or plans to give to the implications for Scotland and Scots Law of the UK Counter-Terrorism Bill, published by the UK Government on 24 January 2008.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government is continuing to work closely with the Home Office to ensure that the provisions in the bill as they relate to Scotland are proportionate and suitable for the Scottish legal system. I am in correspondence with Home Office ministers on aspects of the legislation and intend to meet with Tony McNulty MP, Home Office Minister of State, in the near future.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why, following the recommendations of the Sustainable Development Commission, it has not extended its waste strategy to include commercial waste.

Richard Lochhead: The Parliamentary Statement on waste policy on 24 January announced the government’s intention to review the National Waste Plan. The review will consider commercial and industrial waste and, as indicated in the statement, the government will consult on new targets to reduce the amount of commercial waste that goes to landfill.

  Landfill Tax, a key policy lever in relation to commercial and industrial waste, is a reserved matter. However, the Scottish Government is carrying out or supporting a wide range of work on commercial waste including producer responsibility, the report by the Wood Fuel Task Force and Envirowise, which provides advice to business on waste prevention:

  http://www.usewoodfuel.co.uk/Docs/WFTF%20final%20report%20for%20web.pdf, http://www.envirowise.gov.uk/scotland.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to set targets for the recycling and reduction of (a) commercial and industrial, (b) construction and demolition and (c) agricultural waste.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government intends to consider setting targets for waste in these sectors as part of the review of the National Waste Plan.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of its new targets on waste, it will pay the fines of local authorities that have submitted plans to it which the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment has not approved.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in respect of its targets on waste, it will pay the fines of local authorities that now have to change their plans for dealing with waste, following the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008.

Richard Lochhead: No. The Landfill Allowance Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2005 set maximum amounts of biodegradable municipal waste that can be disposed of by local authorities to landfill each year and any penalty liabilities that are notified by the Scottish ministers under the regulations fall to the local authorities themselves. In any event, the distribution of year-on-year allowances has only been set up until 2010 and none of the local authority plans envisaged delivery of infrastructure before this time.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Audit Scotland’s analysis of the greater cost of delivering higher waste recycling targets, what additional resources will be available to meet the higher targets in the Scottish Government’s new waste strategy (a) across Scotland and (b) in each local authority area in each of the next three years.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government will provide local authorities with record levels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vast majority of the funding, including the former ring-fenced Strategic Waste Fund , will be provided by means of a block grant. It will therefore be the responsibility of each local authority to allocate financial resources to meet its obligations, needs and priorities.

  In addition to this, Scottish Government’s spending plans for the period 2008-11 included an allocation of £154 million to the Zero Waste Fund. The proposed expenditure across Scotland is £41.1 million in 2008-09; £54.4 million in 2009-10, and £58.7 million in 2010-11. Around £50 million of the total will be spent on support of delivery bodies but the remaining £100 million is intended to be spent on putting the necessary infrastructure in place to meet our longer term waste targets post 2010-11. A short-life working group will shortly be established between Scottish Government and COSLA to determine how this financial resource should be best deployed.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the 60% efficiency targets for waste-to-energy plants, referred to in the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, will be enforced from day one of the operation of the plants or whether the targets relate to the theoretical ability of such plants to achieve high efficiency levels.

Richard Lochhead: The government’s intention is that energy from waste plants should have efficiency levels of at least 60%. However, the government recognises that in some cases developments such as planned housing or factories to take the heat generated by the energy from waste plants may not be in place when any plants start to operate. In these cases, the government would expect the operators of the plants to have clear plans in place to use the heat once other developments are in place. The operators would, of course, be expected to develop facilities capable of utilising waste heat at the outset.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its interpretation is of the proximity principle.

Richard Lochhead: Paragraph 2.1.2 of the current National Waste Plan says: "The proximity and self-sufficiency principles require waste to be dealt with as close as possible to where it is produced. It is European Union policy that individual Member States should deal with their own waste, avoiding export to other countries. Scotland aims to follow this principle. However, it is acknowledged that dealing with all waste within Scotland may not be possible and may not always be the best solution. Scotland also aims to follow the proximity principle as far as possible at area waste planning level, although there may clear benefits from joint infrastructure solutions between areas."

  http://www.sepa.org.uk/pdf/nws/guidance/national_plan_2003.pdf.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to update planning guidance on waste in order to reflect the new waste targets and, if so, when.

Richard Lochhead: As the Government indicated in the Parliamentary statement on waste on 24 January 2008, we will ensure that the new National Planning Framework reflects the government’s key objectives on waste.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to set detailed specifications in order to guide local authorities about the safety and capability of new waste management and treatment technologies, as referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment on 24 January 2008 ( Official Report c. 4596).

Richard Lochhead: As indicated in the parliamentary statement on waste policy on 24 January, the government will include material in the National Planning Framework to reflect the government’s priorities on waste. In addition, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are producing revised guidelines on energy from waste plants, to reflect the need for high efficiency plants. SEPA are also responsible for the licensing of waste management plants. Guidance on waste technologies can be found on the Waste Technology Data Centre website, which has been supported by SEPA.

  http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wtd/.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will be expected to give local authorities specific advice in achieving the proximity principle, whereby there is a presumption that all schemes will be located close to the source of the waste and will be of an appropriate scale.

Richard Lochhead: It is not for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to advise local authorities on the proximity principle. Instead, it is for the land-use planning system to determine the location of plants. SEPA is a statutory consultee on planning applications relating to waste management facilities.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, whether it will clarify what exactly will be counted as recycling in respect of meeting waste targets.

Richard Lochhead: The previous administration, in Technical Notes relating to spending reviews, used a definition of recycling, including organic waste which is composted, contained in the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997. This definition is that "recycling means the reprocessing in a production process of the waste materials for the original purpose or for other purposes including organic recycling but excluding energy recovery".

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, whether it intends to set specific levels for composting.

Richard Lochhead: The targets announced in my statement on 24 January 2008 were combined targets for both recycling and composting of municipal waste. The review of the National Waste Plan will consider the case for separate composting targets.

Waste Management

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the ministerial statement on 24 January 2008, whether it intends to agree specific targets on waste with each local authority.

Richard Lochhead: Yes the Scottish Government does intend to agree specific targets on waste with each local authority, principally to ensure that each local authority diverts sufficient biodegradable municipal waste from landfill in order for Scotland to meet its EU Landfill Directive obligation in 2010 and also to ensure that each local authority contributes to National Indicators 39 (amount of waste going to landfill) and 32 (ecological footprint) within the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework.

  Scottish Government will seek to ensure that local authorities contribute towards the National Performance Framework by agreeing local outcomes to be included in their single outcome agreements (SOAs).

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Building

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what the total cost has been of repairs and alterations to the Holyrood building since its opening in October 2004 and whether it will itemise these costs; whether there have been any snagging costs, and whether it will itemise the estimated costs of all planned repairs and alterations.

Alex Johnstone: The information is not available in the exact form requested and the cost of itemising individual repairs and alterations would be disproportionate. The total cost of maintenance and alterations to the Holyrood building since its opening in October 2004 is £3,343,621.86, as shown in the table below. These figures include alterations to the building made to take account of occupants’ needs.

  

 
Fabric Maintenance
Mechanical and Electrical Maintenance
Landscape and Change Projects


 2004-05
£0.00
£0.00
£223,562.56


 2005-06
£133,628.80
£713,157.52
£243,285.66


 2006-07
£315,185.68
£558,197.95
£278,095.80


 2007-08
£218,379.13
£479,997.15
£180,131.61


 Sub-Total
£667,193.61
£1,751,352.62
£925,075.63



  The position on snagging and defects was fully explained in the Presiding Officer’s statement to MSPs of 21 February 2007 on the Holyrood Project Closure, where it was reported that, from October 2004, some 45,000 snags were identified by the design team. Most of these were minor in nature but it would not be practicable to itemise each one along with costs. Since responsibility for rectification of snags lay with the trade contractors, the cost was included within the final cost of the project, reported by the Presiding Officer in February 2007, of £414.4 million.

  Estimates for costs of future maintenance have been made, but are considered to be commercially confidential as competitive tender exercises for future maintenance are currently underway.